Juan De Padilla

https://sfojuandepadilla.org Volume 12, Number 2 Summer 2019

Secular Franciscan Order

Juan de Padilla

Regional Newsletter

KANSAS MISSOURI OKLAHOMA • Minister’s Minister’s Message Message To begin, I would like to remind all of every election will have a large impact on who we are in the future. We need • Franciscan you once again of Regional Elections which will be held on Saturday after- dedicated, holy and active members Renewal noon, September 7, at our Annual who will work to lead us closer to God Workshop Chapter in Wichita, Kansas. This is through our Franciscan charisms and your opportunity to choose the mem- our Rule. • Francis & bers who will serve you on our Region- So, what has your REC done for you You al Executive Council and will represent over the last 3 years? At the beginning of you, Nationally and Internationally, for our tenure in 2016, the REC chose 3 are- the next three years. as which we felt needed growth and deeper understanding by the whole re- I n s i d e Even though most of you may not be voting directly (voting members consist gion. We tried to address one of these t h i s of the current Regional Executive each year. Surprisingly, these three areas i s s u e : Council members and one member of focus coincide with the new National from each local fraternity, who is the Priorities that were announced by newly Minister’s minister or his/her delegate) you can elected NEC in January of this year. Co- Message 1-3 let your ministers/delegates know your incident? Not hardly. When the Holy

choices as they are your representatives Spirit wants something done, He works at all levels at once. Father Mike’s at Chapter. All of you were sent an 5-6 Column email with the current nominees for Our first year we chose to focus on For- each office. And, please, if you know of mation. This led us, under the leader-

6 members who do not receive emails, ship of Regional Formation Director, Historic Election share this information with them. Learn Janice Keeley, OFS, and Regional Spir- who the nominees are and discuss each itual Assistant, Fr. Michael Scully, OFM Fraternity News one in your gatherings so your voting Cap, to develop our Regional Formation

delegate to the Elective Chapter knows Team and execute the 3-year Franciscan your preferences. This is our 23rd year Renewal Workshops. After the first two as a region, making ours the youngest years, we are convinced that the mem- Calendar 18 region in the National Fraternity. We bers who have participated in this pro- are still growing and developing, and gram have found a more solid founda-

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tion in their profession and a deeper sense of fraternal bonding in the Region with members outside their own fraternity. This program continues its final year this fall with workshops in Blue Springs on Saturday, Sept 28 and in Wichita on Saturday, Oct. 12. We sincerely hope you will choose to attend and participate, and let’s keep working on renewal and formation. It will be up to the Regional Formation Team as to what direction it will take in 2020.

The 2nd year we turned our focus to Fraternity and Fraternal Life. Those who have heard me speak at either Annual Chapters or at one of our Annual Summer Gatherings know how strongly I feel about the im- portance of living out our profession in our own local fraternities. As I have said over and over, if we can’t live out our promise of love, humility, peace and poverty in our local fraternity, how can we EVER expect to live it out in the world. Francis knew that living in “family” can be the biggest test of our holiness and vir- tue. In our local fraternity is where we can practice our love of Christ in others. And if we fail, hopefully, our loving brothers and sisters will put out a helping hand, forgive our faults and lead us back to the right path. And we will humbly accept. Yes, learning to work together, laugh together, cry together and pray together in fraternity is all part of the life of a Secular Franciscan.

This last year, in response to the pleas of the local fraternities, we looked closely at Vocations. The REC has worked at offering ways for your fraternities to find those people who God is calling to the Franciscan life. Remember, God does the calling. What we are supposed to do is make sure that when they are called, they know where to find us! I made this a major issue in all the Visitations I attended this last year. Several times at a variety of venues we promoted the Vocations Tool Kit created by the National Vocations Committee. It is the step-by-step program on how to conduct a “Come and See” event in your parish or community, invit- ing people to see who we are and what we do. All the tools are in the kit and it is easily accessible on our Re- gional website. If you haven’t seen it yet, you owe it to your fraternity to look at this and take some of your fraternity brothers and sister with you as you investigate it. (sfojuandepadilla.org).

Also, at both our Franciscan Renewal Workshops and at our Summer Gatherings, Janice Keeley introduced us to the Franciscan Family Chaplet, encouraging all of us to pray constantly for vocations to all the Francis- can Orders. Please continue praying for new, holy and dedicated vocations to the Secular Franciscans, to the First Order brothers and priests, to the Second Order contemplative Sisters and for the Third Order Regulars and Lay, and for more diocesan priests. Flood heaven with our requests for assistance. God will hear us.

And speaking of Vocations, I want to tell you of a chance meeting I had at our Summer Gathering in Oklaho- ma City in June. I was putting out our Pre-Prayed books on our table outside our conference room when a young man came up to look at the books. I introduced myself and struck up a conversation. His name is Ty- ler Goerl, and he was staying at the Pastoral Center with a group of young adults who were in a program based out of Denver, CO who were spending time on the streets accompanying the homeless and poor. Not giving them money or food, but giving them their time, energy, prayers and fellowship. As we talked, he revealed that he had just been accepted into the postulancy for the Capuchin Order in Denver CO – our own St. Conrad – Mid America Province! I got his name and email and promised I’d stay in touch and pray for him.

So, I decided to email him a couple of weeks ago and asked how his move and first week of postulancy went and if there was anything we could do for him and his fellow postulants. He said his first week went smoothly and was definitely blessed by the Lord. Then he said that all the postulants would be delighted to have us pray for them. At his request, I am asking all of you to please put these young men on your daily (Continued from page 2) Page 2 prayer list for vocations. Their names are: Tyler Goerl, Chad Allen, Jay Armstrong, Derek Ressel, Antonio Villafranca, and Sergio Rayas. This last young man needs extra prayers for healing as he was involved in a car accident the day before moving in and suffered some injuries that have delayed his arrival by several weeks. Also, if you want to send cards or notes of encouragement, their address is: Solanus Casey Friary, 5 University Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910. I will keep you informed as I hear more of their journey.

At all Elective Chapters, just prior to the actual elections, the members of the Executive Council give up their offices, stepping back into the ranks of the general membership of the Region. For that brief time, there are no leaders, there are no titles. We are just a band of brothers and sisters who love God and each other. But then that is all we ever are. The only title any of us should ever have is that of servant. And that is how we need to look at our upcoming elections – the choosing of servant leaders who will help us identify and fulfill God’s mission in our lives.

With that in mind, I want to thank you ahead of time from the depths of my heart for allowing me to serve you these last three years. As ill-prepared as I was on the day of my election for this awesome responsibil- ity, I sincerely appreciate your helping me to grow both in my faith and in my duty as a servant of God. My personal belief is that every single able member in our Region should, in some way or other, serve on the Regional Council at least once. Whether it is an elected position or as an appointed member of a Commission or committee or a volunteer. We should all be willing to offer our services to our Order at all levels of membership. This is how we build a stronger bond and deeper fellowship throughout the Region.

Please pray for our elections that we listen to the voice of God and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit to elect the people God needs to do His work in our Region.

May the Lord give you peace, See Christ, Judith

Be Christ

BRING FRATENITY BANNERS TO THE CHAPTER OF ELECTIONS—AND ALL REGIONAL EVENTS Page 2

THE FORMATION CORNER

Janice Keeley Formation Director Regional Formation Director’s Musings ~ Living the Sacred Tapestry of Franciscan Spirituality In the Sea of Galilee

It is 2 months since our 2019 Summer Gathering which was lead by Fr. Charlie Smiech, OFM member of the Franciscan Holy Land Province. Thus, his brown habit was embroidered with a red Jerusalem Cross. Fr. Charlie is a frequent retreat director and is often the spiritual director for pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Italy and other places. He had not, however, given a retreat for Secular Franciscans until he led ours. In our last conversation at the end of the weekend, he asked me to please convey to everyone how VERY SPECIAL the weekend had been for him. Pentecost Sunday occurred during our weekend. It did seem that the Holy Spirit had a very active part in the weekend. Fr. Charlie’s presentations and our prayer times seemed to fit together so well. Thank you Holy Spirit! Prayers were offered for those of you who could not attend. It is with some sadness that I tell you, that after six years, this is my final column as Juan de Padilla Regional For- mation Director. I have really enjoyed the position. It has been quite a challenge at times, but having the opportunity to work closely with the other members of the regional council and other OFS throughout the region, espe- cially at the summer gatherings and Franciscan Renewal programs has been a real life-giving experience. I will miss those close relationships. However, I plan to dedicate myself more fully to my own local fraternity which is really the foundation of my Franciscan life. I hope also to continue visiting local fraternities around the region as my life permits. There is so much to be gleaned from the way other fraternities practice their Franciscan charisms. One of the goals of our current REC has been to promote the practice of mingling with other OFS whenever the opportunity can be initiated. Many OFS agree with that, saying on their evaluations that they want more group ses- sions. Speaking of gleaning much from other OFS, instead of writing this column by myself, I am going to rely on the wisdom of other OFS who attended the Summer Gathering where we had a break-out discussion session that built on what we had been taught by Fr. Charlie. The following thoughts come from the charts of the group note takers: It was decided that the spiritual journey seems to become more challenging as time goes by, and we face ourselves in the light of God’s grace. We learn to scrutinize our life in more detail with daily examination of conscience and frequent confession. We realize that we need to “think spiritual,” that our aim is holiness. We need to be “all in” in our relationship to God, and this is also true in relation to our Franciscan vocation. We realize that each person’s spiritual journey is unique. We cannot judge another person’s journey and we must not compare our own journey to that of someone else. We cannot even judge God’s working within our own life. We must simply trust God and be grateful for His leadership, leading us all to the same goal. We realize that our growth is often cyclic and not linear as we keep revisiting some of the same issues until they are resolved, often with the help of the sacrament of reconciliation. There are challenges to being Christian and even more to being Franciscan, because negativity toward religion of any kind is common in today’s world. Everyone’s journey has different conversion points. Everyone was given the gift of free will. There were 3 crosses and two different thieves. A Christian must make a conscious decision to be holy and follow the will of God. God challenges us to always be better. We can always find God in the present moment; if we look for him, he will always be there. We may have started our journey as a tourist, but by now we had better be a pilgrim. On our journey there will be sufferings. Those are special places where we can accompany others on their journey or where we can offer our suffering for the good of another. Some suffering may be mental/spiritual. For ex- ample, there may be tension between wanting justice in a situation and being liberated by offering forgiveness. In the gap, there is growth in holiness. Fr. Charlie spoke of “tension” in many situations. One group spoke of the tension between being present to others or being present, in silence, with God, realizing that time with God can lead to Revelation. We need to know God’s love and then share that Love with others. Let it overflow.

I love you all! All peace and all good now and always! Janice Keeley, OFS, JDP Formation Director

Page 4 Francis & You

By Father Mike Scully OFM Cap

#9 Commitment—Even If It Rains

REFERENCES: Note, rumored to have been found at a high school dance My dearest Susan, I would cross the mighty ocean for one glance from your lovely eyes. I would walk through a wall of fire for one touch of your delicate hand. I would swim the widest river, climb the highest hill for a single word from your warm lips. As ever, your faithful Tony. P.S. I’ll be over to see you tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.

John 21:15-19 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” Amen I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM, Selling All, page 82. The Religious must so interiorize the life and concerns of Jesus that [he] is able to say with St. Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). Only such personal union can ground the kind of self-gift, the kind of commitment, that perpetual profession expresses. And such unitive love not only justifies permanence in the commitment, it demands it, not as an obligation or a requirement but as the only adequate expression of the actual relationship.

The Calling, “Wherever You Will Go”, past top 10 song. I’ll go wherever you will go, way up high or down low, I’ll go wherever you will go. Run away with my heart. Run away with my hope. Run away with my love.

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The Lord reminds Peter in John’s Gospel that commitment is not easy. Jesus gently takes him back to the three-fold denial, and in effect, says, “There will be tough times in your life; can you take it, will you de- ny me like you did at one time?” Then, Jesus speaks an interesting line. After three years together, after Pe- ter has been part of Jesus’ public ministry, after Peter’s denial and Jesus’ own passion, death and resurrec- tion, after all of that, he tells Peter to follow him. As if to say, now your commitment can be real. Francis never had a problem with commitment, even the toughest of commitments. After he was convinced that the Lord wanted him to do something, it was just a matter of how he was going to carry it out. He would do it—period—no questions asked. Our world doesn’t do well with commitments. Ruled by selfish human natures, people of our world too often make “temporary permanent commitments.” Of course, such commitments are a contradiction, but they are so much easier than “permanent commitments.” Granted that there are legitimate exceptions in which permanent commitments should be abandoned, one wonders whether there should be as many exceptions as there are. Of course, the answer to the problem of commitment comes before the commitment is made. People must spend time and study on questions like “Are you willing to say and mean ‘forever’?”; “Do you know what you are getting into?”; Are you aware of the scope of ‘for better and for worse’?” The question for permanently committed people now is how do we go about strengthening the commitment, a commitment that has already been made. That is, for us, the Secular Franciscan Life. Once more the solution of renewing our consecration to Jesus Christ comes to mind. Prayer continues to be not only the means to a consecrated love, but it is the means to carry out the commitment that we vow. As theo- logian Sandra Schneiders reminds us, our prayer with Jesus must involve all of her/his life and concerns. Once we learn to do that, and put it into action, then our permanent commitment to him in the Secular Fran- ciscan life will happen. I have often said that popular music gives us an idea about what our world is really thinking. If that is true, one of the topics that our society is interested in is that of commitment. So many songs promise that someone will go wherever the other leads, whether it be to the high of “better” or the low of “worse”—always, permanently, forever. It provides a moment of meditation for the commitment of a Secular Franciscan.

1. When do you think a commitment is “real”? 2. Discuss some instances in which Francis showed his commitment. 3. What is the ultimate reason why permanent commitments are not kept today? 4. Did your formation program spend enough time on the meaning of a permanent commitment? Yes or no and why? 5. The meditation suggests that one of the ways to renew our commitments is to re-consecrate ourselves to prayer. In your life right now, what are some further ways to foster prayer? 6. [personal consideration] How much time do I give to prayer?

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History was made at the Chapter of Elections of the St. Conrad Province held at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, KS when Capuchin Brother Mark Schenk, 61, became the first lay friar elected to serve as Provincial Minister.

It was his second history-making moment as in 2006 he was the Brother Mark Schenk, Newly first lay brother ever chosen to serve on the order’s Rome-based Elected Provincial General Council.

The role of Provincial Minister (a three-year term) is to guide the province and animate the spiritual life of the friars. The purpose of the chapter meeting is to elect new leadership and set the direction for the province for the next three years.

A native of Olmitz, Kan., Brother Mark studied at Rockhurst University in Kansas City and St. Thomas Seminary in Denver. He holds graduate degrees in theology, divinity and business administration from Aquinas Institute in St. Louis and Regis University in Denver. Most recently he served as General Defini- tor on the General Council. In that role he traveled to Capuchin territories throughout the world to ensure their commitment to the Capuchin charism and to serve as an ambassador on behalf of the General Min- ister. Previously he served as Provincial Vicar and Provincial Treasurer for St. Conrad Province.

In the late 1980s-2000 he served the order in a variety of positions in Rome, including as Under Secre- tary General, Secretary General pro-tem, and Information Systems Manager. Other offices he has held include assistant superior of the friary at the order’s Roman curia, local superior of friaries in St. Louis and Denver, Provincial Director of initial formation, and Executive Secretary of the North American- Pacific Capuchin Conference. In the mid-1980s he taught religion, computer science and space science at Thomas More Prep in Hays, Kan., which he had attended. He also served as Campus Minister, Direc- tor of the Religious Vocations program, Registrar and Residency Advisor, and area Vocation Director.

Brother Mark has said that the new council will continue the work of the previous administration. Voca- tions will be a key focus to invite young men to grow in formation in the province. Other issues will be on going formation for all and child protection issues.

Four other Capuchins were elected as counselors: Father Bill Kraus (chosen Provincial Vicar), Brother Frank Grinko, Brother Curtis Carlson and Father Sojan Parapilly.

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Queen of the Angels ~ Elections Buckner, MO

June 22, 2019—Queen of the Angels elected: Jo Keller— minister; Janice Cox—vice minster; Kelli McSwain— secretary; Helen Boos—treasurer; Dona Gibbons—formation director; Sylvia Ridge and Virginia Forbes—councilors. Yes, that is former Regional Min- ister, Alice Crews OFS, who filled in as the Fraternal Visitor Monsignor Kaiser OFS addresses members after the election of the new council. for Judith Cronk, current Region- Joe Novak, Carol Allman inquirers served as election tellers, Sr. Doris Engeman al Minister, who had become ill FSHF, pastoral visitor and Alice Crews OFS, fraternal visitor and former regional at the last minute. Sr. Doris minister. Engeman FSHF was the Pastoral visitor. Since its establishment in 2015, Queen of the Angels Fraternity has tripled its original membership. In August, two more inquirers will be admitted into candidacy. In November, one more will be professed. A new inquiry class is scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2020. A major reason for the fraternity’s success is being located in the local parish supported by the pastor of Church, Monsignor Kaiser OFS, who is also a Secular Franciscan. However, fraternity members do come from four parishes in the KC Metro area; Church of the Santa Fe in Buckner, MO; St. Robert Bellarmine, St. John Lalande in Blue Springs, MO; and Cure d’ Ars in Leawood, KS. The fraternity has several apostolates for the poor in the local community and participates in a greater KC apostolate. JPIC projects are ongoing and visible at each gathering. P a g e 1 1

Monsignor Ralph Kaiser OFS Celebrates 65 years as a Priest

Originally from New Jersey, Monsignor Ralph Kaiser OFS graduated from Bonaventure University. He accepted an offer from a Kansas City bishop to be a “missionary” priest in his diocese. He is now the only OFS priest in the diocese. Monsignor also served as a Navy Chaplain in Europe during the war traveling the world—which he still does a couple of times each year. Currently, Monsignor serves as the full-time pastor of the Church of the Santa Fe in Buckner, MO and is well respected in the community. He was named “Buckner to Man of the Year” twice. He is a self-taught musician and gives music lessons to the children of the parish. He has won awards for his solo musical performances on the trumpet. Monsignor has won many awards for his photography (one from National Geographic). Above, Monsignor holds his latest award for his photography from the Conservation Department of Jackson County, MO. He agreed to be the spiritual assistant Queen of the Angels fraternity and that fraternity has flourished under his direction. Let us always follow Francis in our support and love for God’s holy priests. They are our bridge to God.

.“PLACE YOUR MIND BEFORE THE MIRROR OF ETERNITY! PLACE YOUR SOUL IN THE BRILLIANCE OF GLORY! AND TRANSFORM YOUR ENTIRE BEING INTO THE IMAGE OF THE GODHEAD ITSELF THROUGH CONTEMPLATION SO THAT YOU TOO MAY FEEL WHAT FRIENDS FEEL IN TASTING THE HIDDEN SWEETNESS THAT, FROM THE BEGINNING, GOD HIMSELF HAS RESERVED FOR HIS LOVERS”

~ St. Clare of Assisi

SISTER DEATH

NAME FRATERNITY CITY, STATE DATE

Marie Easton OFS Little Portion Tahlequah, OK February 21, 2019

Norma Karhoff OFS Sacred Heart Emporia, KS March 30, 2019

Susan Marie Lee St. Francis of Assisi Oklahoma City, OK May 8, 2019

Please notify Judith or wwwjuandepadillasfo.com of the death in your fraternity Page 15

In the shadow of Father Juan de Padilla

St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity Moves Toward Full Establishment

At the base of the Coro- nado Cross just east of Ford, KS, several people who have committed themselves to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi watched as the Most Rev. John B. Brungardt signed a declaration July 4th per- mitting the establishment of a fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in the diocese.

The Secular Franciscan Order, also known as the Third Order of Franciscans (OFS), was officially established as an emerging fraternity on Jan. 23, 2016, in the Sacred Heart Chapel at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City, when four aspirants joined Chris Hickman as professed mem- Members of newly established St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity in Liberal, KS pose bers of the order. with Bishop John Brungardt of Dodge City, KS and their sponsoring fraternity , St. Joseph Fraternity from Hays, KS, On July 4, with the signing of the

declaration by Bishop Brungardt, the fraternity officially became independent of the sponsorship of St. Joseph’s Fraternity in Hays, KS. All Kansas, Oklahoma and a portion of NW Missouri belong to the Juan de Padilla Region, a national region. In becoming independent, the local group will be able to govern themselves and their activities as a fraternity in the diocese dedicated to the faith-lessons of the Italian saint.

The fraternity chose as its patron Saint Frances Cabrini, the Italian Franciscan missionary to the United States and South America, who also was a third-order Francis- can, in addition to being the founder of her order, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Interest in forming a fraternity started in 2012 when Chris Hickman, an active member of the Colorado Springs fraternity, moved to Liberal. When an inquiry of sur- rounding parishes revealed no professed members, not only in the parish but found living in the diocese, he began work to establish a local fraternity. Hickman became the formation director; the regional Fraternity of Juan de Padilla from Hays was the sponsoring fraternity.

“Up until now it was an ‘emerging fraternity,’” explained Father Dieker, who, a year ago, stood with several others in a chapel at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guada- lupe to take his final professions as members of the Secular Franciscan Order. The Coronado Cross

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The Franciscan family— unites all members of the people of God—lay, religious, and priests who recognize that they are called to follow Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.

History Touches Our Future The Historic Coronado Cross

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, a Spanish nobleman, set out from Mexico in 1540 to find the fabled cities of gold. Thirty horsemen, foot soldiers, guides and a Franciscan Friar, Juan de Padilla, who wrote a dairy, accompanied Coronado.

On June 29, 1541, after much hardship, the group crossed the Arkansas River (called the St. Peter & St. Paul River) near present day Fort Dodge, Kansas. Father Juan de Padilla held a mass of thanksgiving on the nearby hills, the first Christian service held in the interior of the continent, predating the landing of the Pilgrims almost 100 years. Father Juan de Padilla eventually became a proto- martyr of the North America.

The 38-foot tall cross, made of pre-stressed concrete, was erected in June 1975, on a hill in a 10-acre native grass prairie park donated by a local family. The land was originally marked with a wooden cross in 1940. The base of the Coronado Cross gives a brief history of Coronado's Expedition and about the Native Americans that lived here.

Located one and a half miles east of Fort Dodge, the Coronado Cross Park allows a view of the unplowed prairie across to the Arkansas River and the Fort. Stand where Coronado stood, where the Santa Fe Trail passed and the soldiers of Fort Dodge kept watch. Page 10 St. Anthony—Wichita, KS Dr. Tony Barba OFS, Receives Diocesan Honor

Chris Riggs, minister of St. Anthony in Wichita, KS re- ports that Dr. Tony Barba – accordion in hand – was honored with the Father Oborny Senior of the Year Award at the Diocese of Wichita’s Harvest House 30th Anniversary Celebration Thursday, June 6.

Dr. Barba, a member of St. Anthony Fraternity in Wichi- ta, delivered over 6,000 babies in Wichita in his medical career. After many years as a volunteer chaplain, he now spends time ministering to other residents of Independ- ent Living and others at the Catholic Care Center, where he lives.

Most of us remember Dr Barba and his beautiful joyful music at the last Wichita gathering. Thank you, Dr. To- ny for sharing your gifts.

Saintly Quotes—Pope John XXIII Tertiary Franciscan On Family: (16.) The family, founded upon marriage freely contracted, one and indissoluble, must be regarded as the natural, primary cell of human society. The interests of the family, therefore, must be taken very specially into consideration in social and economic affairs, as well as in the spheres of faith and morals. For all of these have to do with strengthening the family and assisting it in the fulfilment of its mission —John XXIII. Pacem in Terris. 1963

CALENDAR EVENTS 2019

DATE EVENT Location

August 26-29, 2019 National Gathering of Regional Spiritual Assistants Mercy Center, St. Louis, MO

August 29-Sept 1, 2019 JPIC National Gathering TBA, St Louis , MO

September 6-8, 2019 Regional Chapter of Elections Spiritual Life Center, Wichita, KS

September 28, 2019 Franciscan Renewal Workshop St. Robert’s Church, Blue Springs, MO

October 15-20, 2019 NAFRA Chapter, Pax Christi Liturgical Center Corpus Christi, Texas

(Please let Judith know of any deaths in your respective fraternities.) Page 9 Sacred Heart Fraternity ~ Emporia, KS

Remembering Deceased Brothers and Sisters and Welcoming New Members

Norma Karhoff OFS, May she rest in peace.

Sacred Heart Fraternity attended a memorial Mass for Norma Karhoff OFS who recently passed away at St. Teresa’s Chapel / Dibbe Catholic Center. Norma was a faculty member. Fran Hudson, minister states that Emporia State College is closely aligned with the Dibbe Catholic Center. Pictured are: Dena Kaminski, Rebecca Cheek, Marina After mass the fraternity had lunch and watched a video on three saint; St. Pope John Paul II, St Faustina, and St. Zeller, Teresa Sturm, Fran Hudson and Louise Maximilian Kolbe OFS. (back row l-r): Louise Wright, Wright. Dena Kaminski, and Terri Sturm; (front row l-r): Rebecca Cheek, Marina Zeller, and Fran Hudson.

The Sacred Heart Fraternity, Emporia, welcomes Marina Zeller as a candidate. Back row, l-r Father Swamy, Dena Kamenski, Rebecca Cheek, Dorothy Krueger, Teresa Sturm, Louise Wright. Front row, l-r, Fran Hudson, Marina Zeller, Mary Lou Young. Page 9

Big Changes at St. Elizabeth’s in Leawood, KS

PACE BENE

Jennifer Garrison OFS of St. Good News—Linus Drouhard OFS was accepted into the Deaconate Elizabeth’s, has moved to program for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS. Therefore he has de- Albuquerque, New Mexico cided to resign his position as fraternity minister to give this new voca- with her family for her tion his all. Julie Oswald OFS, vice minister now assumes the position of husband to pursue a minister. Linus’ wife, Diane also resigned her position as Formation Di- wonderful job opportunity. rector because her role as a deacon’s wife is very important too. Regina Ozbun OFS will take over as the Formation Director. This is a challenge for the fraternity, but a great opportunity for all too. God bless and pray for everyone’s success. (l-r) Regina, Diane, Linus & Julie.

Regional Executive Council

Spiritual Assistant Fr. Michael Scully OFM Cap [email protected]

Minister Judith Cronk OFS [email protected]

Vice Minister Greg King OFS [email protected]

Secretary Dona Gibbons OFS [email protected]

Treasurer Leila Safavi OFS [email protected]

Formation Director Janice Keeley OFS [email protected]

Kansas Councilor Geri Rupp OFS [email protected]

Missouri Councilor Maria Epperson OFS [email protected]

Oklahoma Councilor Deacon Mark Keeley OFS [email protected]

Regional Webmaster Bart Ridge OFS [email protected]

Regional Newsletter Dona Gibbons OFS [email protected]

Regional Data Base Mgr. Claudia Kauzlarich OFS [email protected] Page 22

Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation

The gathering that takes place every two years for JPIC animators and other interested parties will take place at the Marianist Retreat Center in Eureka, Illinois (just outside St. Louis) from August 29-September 1. Much of our work there will be centered around envisioning our future, much like was undertaken concern- ing the whole realm of formation last year. I can report on this event further in the next issue of this newsletter.

Many of you have read or heard about Project Oak Tree, a ministry of the Secular Franciscans in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a ministry that provides aid and hospitality to immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. They are always looking for volunteers to come work alongside them, but they are also in need of money for supplies such as toiletries, underwear, shoes and medicines. Donna Hollis, a member of the NAFRA National Execu- tive Council, is coordinator of this project. You may email her at: [email protected]. Please prayerful- ly consider how you might support this ministry. Thank you!

As I write this, my heart is incredibly heavy. There have been four multiple-casualty shootings in our country in the last eight days. Gun violence in this country and the social problems that are accompanying it such as a broken mental health care system in this country, racism, bigotry and fear seem to be getting more and more serious. Let us pray for God’s guidance as we seek ways to heal our country and to reduce the problems that have caused such pain and destruction. We Franciscans are lovers of peace. Surely we can find a way to help bring peace to the table! O loving God, help us be peace, from the depth of our being. Amen.

Susan Tabor OFS, JPIC Animator

“Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and can be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.” ― St. Francis of Assisi Page 13